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Freudenberg inaugurates new plant in Valinhos (SP), Brasilia Investment of around EUR 15 million aims to foster customer proximity

2016-05-02

Management of Chem-Trend and SurTec

Freudenberg Chemical Specialities, a business group of the Freudenberg Group of Companies in Weinheim, Germany, today announced the inauguration of a new plant in the city of Valinhos (SP), Brazil. The new state-of-the-art facility will be jointly operated by Chem-Trend and SurTec, both companies of Freudenberg Chemical Specialities and will develop, manufacture and sell speciality release agents, process
chemicals and chemical surface treatment solutions serving customers in various industries.

The new plant replaces two older operations SurTec and Chem-Trend have been running in Brazil since decades. The investment in the new facility, comprising administration and sales functions, logistics and warehouses, laboratories and manufacturing operations will significantly improve customer service and will reduce response times to market requirements.

“The new plant is a visible sign for our long-term commitment towards our Brazilian customers in the respective industries”, Hanno D. Wentzler, President & CEO Freudenberg Chemical Specialities, explained. “Customer proximity and customer care provided the basis for our pleasant development in Brazil to date and enabled us to successfully master the challenging economic framework in the country. Our new plant enables us to even better serve our local customers with cutting-edge products and services”.

The total plant size amounts to 29,000 m², of which 11,000 square meters are covered with buildings. The maximum annual manufacturing capacity is at 13,000 metric tons for release agents, process aids and chemical surface treatment products. More than 120 employees serve customers from various industries including automotive, aerospace, shoe manufacturing, wind energy, civil construction, general industry, the home appliances market and others.
“The new factory provides improved capabilities in regards of production volumes, logistical services, technical support, occupational health and safety, working conditions and R&D”; Paulo Noce, CEO of Chem-Trend and SurTec Brazil said. “Both Chem-Trend and SurTec are certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 (Chem-Trend in addition is OHSAS 18001 certified) and meet all international standards regarding quality management processes, environmental protection, occupational health and workplace safety”, he added.

Infrastructure investment fosters customer proximity
The investment aims to significantly improve customer proximity and advanced customer services by fulfilling respective demands more rapidly and highly efficient according to the needs of the Brazilian and adjacent South American markets. The new plant supports improvements in operational efficiency, offers areas for application testing and engineering, grants shortened response times, and supports customers in their attempt to increase quality of manufactured parts and components while reducing scrap, meeting environmental compatibility requirements and increasing their productivity. In the long-term the new operation will also focus on the production of next generation products, and provides opportunities for the utilization of synergy potentials between the two companies.